Baldacci mum on Domtar mill negotiations

BAILEYVILLE, Maine — A spokesman for Gov. John Baldacci said Wednesday that the governor was working with the Domtar company and potential investors, but left open the question as to whether the Domtar pulp mill in Baileyville is in the process of being sold.

In a terse statement issued by the governor’s office Wednesday, Dan Cashman, Baldacci’s assistant press secretary, said the governor’s office had no announcement about the mill at this time.

Domtar spokesman Scott Beal in Baileyville said Wednesday that he had spoken with Domtar’s Michel Marcouiller, senior manager for corporate communications in Montreal, who said the company was not in a position to comment on the nature of any “type of meeting along those lines.”

Joy Leach at the governor’s office said in a phone call Wednesday afternoon that Baldacci was unavailable for comment.

Baldacci told the Calais Advertiser this week that he had met with people who were interested in investing in the Domtar mill and he was holding another meeting with the potential investors today.

It has been a difficult week for employees at the mill. In March, the Montreal-based company announced it was shutting down its pulp mill indefinitely. On Tuesday, more than 300 people left their stations for the last time.